Judge orders 'no Beer Stores and LCBOs,' for man who crashed stolen police car

Jason Reid bowed his head, and ran his fingers through his hair when a judge told him Friday that his actions on a September afternoon last year called for a jail sentence.

Ontario Court Justice John Condon said the intoxicated man had put Sault Ste. Marie residents and others in danger when he sped along a busy west-end roadway in a stolen police cruiser and then crashed the vehicle in a residential neighbourhood.

He noted the 32-year-old man was behind the wheel on Sept. 30 with a blood-alcohol level that was two and a half times the legal limit, and was travelling so fast that he put the vehicle in a ditch on Cooper Street.

"What you did jeopardized the people of Sault Ste. Marie and you are going to jail," the judge said. "Jail is appropriate."

Condon imposed a six-month conditional sentence, which Reid will serve in the community.

The sentence, which will be followed by 12 months probation, was jointly recommended by the Crown and defence.

Condon explained to Reid that he was accepting the proposal with a caveat.

Many people think house arrest is easy, but it's not, the judge said, adding offenders who breach the sentences often are incarcerated for the remainder of the time.

"It is not as Mickey Mouse as people think it is."

Telling Reid his conduct deserved custody, Condon said he wanted him to understand his sentence is jail, whether he serves it at home or behind bars, and if he doesn't follow the conditions he may well end up at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre.

"I'm completely remorseful for my actions," Reid told the judge. "I definitely want to rectify the situation and better myself going forward."

Reid pleaded guilty to impaired driving, theft over $5,000 for stealing a 2016 Dodge Charger, property of the city police service, and dangerous driving.

Assistant Crown attorney Robert Skeggs said officers had been called to a Second Line West address at 1 p.m. about an unwanted male.

They spoke to Reid, who was intoxicated, had an odour of alcohol, slurred speech. facial injuries and a bloody lip, and was struggling to put on his pants, the prosecutor said.

When officers went inside the address to get information, Reid drove away in the police car, speeding east bound at a high rate of speed along Second Line forcing other drivers to move out of the way, Skeggs said.

He described Reid's driving as "erratic and dangerous" on Cooper Street, where the accused lost control of the vehicle and struck a concrete driveway culvert and a utility pole.

Reid had a blood alcohol level of 210 and 206 milligrams of alcohol in a 100 millitres of blood.

Citing the need for deterrence and denunciation, Skeggs said a custodial sentence is warranted — to send a message to Reid, who has a 2005 conviction for impaired driving, and other like-minded individuals.

"The community has to hear this is not okay."

He called Reid's pleas of guilt indicative of remorse and referred to a Gladue report (a court-ordered pre-sentence report that can be requested for offenders of Indigenous background).

Skeggs said it shows Reid, who has been attending programs, including a men's traditional help group to deal with his addiction problems, is capable of rehabilitation.

He noted the group leader described Reid as "one of his most engaged clients" who never missed a meeting.

To assist with Reid's rehabilitation, Skeggs said the joint sentencing submission was suggesting a probation condition prohibiting him from attending any licensed establishment selling alcohol.

Defence lawyer Jasmine Gassi-Harnden said her client, a Batchewana First Nation member, is working to reconnect with his community.

Reid witnessed a lot of alcohol and drug abuse growing up, and drank a lot during his teenage years, turning to alcohol to cope with anxiety and depression, she said.

"He acknowledges there are alcohol issues that led to what happened."

When police asked him to take a seat in the cruiser he sat in the front, "had an anxiety attack and drove off," Gassi-Harnden said.

"He feels guilty every day, is hard on himself and is trying to do things to change his life around," she told the judge.

"He doesn't want to to drink anymore and is accepting of the Crown's conditions because he doesn't want alcohol in his life anymore."

During the first three months of Reid's conditional sentence, he will be under house arrest, and can only leave his property to go work, to attend counselling, for medical emergencies and on Monday afternoons to obtain the necessities of life.

In the final three months, he will have a daily curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

He can't have any alcohol or unprescribed drugs during the sentence.

While on probation, Reid is not to enter any premises where the primary purpose is the sale of alcohol.

"No beer stores and LCBOs," Condon told him.

He can't possess any drugs or weapons, must attend any recommended counselling and rehabilitation, and must do 10 hours of community service

Reid also was prohibited from driving for 12 months and must pay $300 in victim surcharges.

He also pleaded guilty to the Highway Traffic Act offence of driving while his license was suspended.

Skeggs said he has been suspended since 2006.

Condon imposed a $1,200 fine and a further six-month suspension under the traffic act.

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